So after discussing with my premed advisor last semester we decided that I don't have to take calc (or any sort of math class), so I just took stats and left it at that. Now that I think about it, however, it seems like a lot of schools recommend taking one year of math on top of statistics. Is this something I should worry about/should I try to take it over summer? I am graduating in May and applying this cycle in June so I really don't have loads of time. The reason I opted out of it was to save space so I could finish my Spanish minor on time. Any advice is welcomed!
Should I take another Math Course?
- Thread starter GBfan5
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You should take at least one year (two semesters) of calculus. It's not a mandatory prerequisite, but most medical schools recommend that all applicants have at least that much experience with the subject.
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Most medical schools are one semester calc, one semester stats now.
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Technically, you don't need to. It certainly wouldn't hurt, assuming you do well, but if you aren't a math person, adcoms will not hold it against you for not a taking a class that isnt a prereq.
D
deleted407021
It may be recommended, but a year of calculus, and calc based physics (MCAT uses algebra) for that matter are over kill courses pushed by out of touch advisers. If you are good at math, maybe take calculus, but my personal experience and my readings on this forum have taught me that it is mostly over kill. I know HMS requires 2 semesters but that is the only one I can think of. A handful of others require one semester. If you don't take calculus, your options are still wide open.
EDIT: I did not mean that your should not take physics, just that you can take algebra/trig based and be perfectly fine. 🙂
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Alright that makes sense. I'm comfortable with my math skills, I just really wanted to finish my minor in Spanish and taking Calc at my school would have conflicted with one of my necessary Spanish classes. Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it!
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The requirements are the requirements, look it up.
But that aside, you don't really need that much math in Med School, but you better know algebra like the back of your hand. It comes up in weird ways. V=IR, some variation of that comes up in cardio and pulm.
But that aside, you don't really need that much math in Med School, but you better know algebra like the back of your hand. It comes up in weird ways. V=IR, some variation of that comes up in cardio and pulm.
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Buy an MSAR and look up the requirements you need for the schools you'll be applying to.
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I don't know what the other posters are talking about but almost all medical schools require one year of collage level math. You must take another math course.
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*college
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College level math being calculus and not college algebra. Meaning Calc 1 and Calc 2.
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Hmmm.
A good amount of the schools on my list don't require anything more than 1 semester of Statistics (or no math requirement at all).
However, a good amount of the competitive schools will require 2 semesters of calc, or 1 semester of calc and 1 semester of stats, with the latter system getting more emphasis in the future (HMS is switching from requiring 2 semesters of calculus to requiring 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of statistics for 2016 matriculants).
Basically, it depends on which schools you plan on targeting with your application; the MSAR will help you figure this out. Taking calculus will open up a good amount of schools to your application. Not taking calculus isn't necessarily a medical school deal-breaker, however.
A good amount of the schools on my list don't require anything more than 1 semester of Statistics (or no math requirement at all).
However, a good amount of the competitive schools will require 2 semesters of calc, or 1 semester of calc and 1 semester of stats, with the latter system getting more emphasis in the future (HMS is switching from requiring 2 semesters of calculus to requiring 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of statistics for 2016 matriculants).
Basically, it depends on which schools you plan on targeting with your application; the MSAR will help you figure this out. Taking calculus will open up a good amount of schools to your application. Not taking calculus isn't necessarily a medical school deal-breaker, however.
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